PHILADELPHIA – For some players, the preseason is a monotonous period
to be endured and complained about. It's an annoying speed bump standing
between training camp and games that count.

For other players, such as New England Patriots backup quarterback Ryan Mallett,
everything that's happened since last August has been in preparation for the
next four weeks of exhibition games. This is it for him. Assuming Tom Brady
gets through the season unscathed, he likely won't stand under center with
spectators on hand until next August.

The anticipation is already building for Mallett, as it always does come preseason, but there's added importance this time around. Even though he maintains that he isn't worried about his contract situation or spot on the depth chart, this may be Mallett's best chance to escape Brady's long and suffocating shadow.

With his contract set to expire after the 2014 season, Mallett has the
next month to show teams that may be in the market for a quarterback in the
near future that he's worth the bounty it would take to pry him from New England. Otherwise,
he'll restart the process next August and hope it is enough to earn a chance as a free agent.

During an abbreviated interview cut short because the Patriots
were departing the NovaCare Complex following Thursday's joint
practice with the Eagles, Mallett said he was
ready to get the preseason under way.

"If you're a competitor, you love it," Mallett said. "I feel like that's
what I was born to do. I can't wait for (Friday) night."

Despite his pedigree, Mallett failed to capitalize on his four
nights in August last year, and may have actually taken a step backward in the
eyes of teams intrigued by his big right arm.

After being selected in the third round of the 2011 draft out of
Arkansas, Mallett completed 36 of 63 passes (57.1 percent) for 357 yards with
one touchdown and one interception during his debut preseason. His numbers weren't that far off from what Brady posted in 2001, his final preseason before becoming a starter, when he finished 31 of 54 with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

But over four exhibitions last year, Mallett went 33 of 67 (49.2 percent) for 300
yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Not exactly the kind of
production that will make teams beat down the doors of Gillette Stadium. In fact,
a repeat performance may even scare away Cleveland Browns general manager
Michael Lombardi, who was not shy about voicing his admiration for Mallett when
working as an NFL Network analyst and is believed to have continued interest in him.

The jury will begin to deliberate on that statement after Friday's game
against the Eagles, and this year there should be no excuses.

The Patriots now have a few burners at wide receiver who can help show off
Mallett's big arm and play to his strengths, where in previous years he was forced
to pick up yards by throwing passes to players working short areas over
the middle of the field.

We've long heard Mallett was a first-round talent who dropped due
to character concerns. This is his chance to earn the opportunities (and
potential payday) that come with the draft status he once allowed to slip away.